170 THE OSAGE TRIBE [bth. ANN. 30 



446. Stantling with upliftcil hand, 



447. Witli the fingers diviiled, giving the hand a cloven, a forked 



appearance. 



448. Wa'-tse-ga-wa returned in haste 



449. And spake to liis ehler brothers, saj'ing: O, ehler brothers, 



450. A man stands yonder in the open prairie. 



451. Then the ehler brothers spake, saying: O, yonnger brothers, 



452. It matters not what man's son he may be. 



453. Let us send him to the abode of spirits, O, younger brothers. 



454. Verily, at that time and place, it has been said, in this house, 



455. With heads bent forward and with firm resolve, 



456. They hastened thitherward with quickened footsteps. 



457. His index finger the leader 



458. Moistened between his lips to slay the man by pointing at him 



with it. 



459. It matters not what man's son he may be, 



460. Let us send him to the abode of spirits, O, younger brothers, 



they said to one another. 



461. The brothers came close to the man and paused, 



462. Whereupon the man spake, saying: O, elder brothers, 



463. I am a Ho^'-ga, 



464. I am Ho"'-ga Mo°-i°'-ka-zhi°-ga, The Little Earth. 



465. I am he, O, elder brothers. 



466. I am a person who is never absent from movements of impor- 



tance. 



467. I am about to give you the things that will cause you to be 



heartily grateful, O, elder brothers. 



468. Verily, at that time and place, it has been said, in this house, 



469. The elder brothers spake to one another, saying: O, younger 



brothers, 



470. It is certain by the signs that our younger brother 



471. Is about to perform some important deed. 



472. Verily, at that time and place, it has been said, in this house, 



473. A bit of the dark soil of the earth, 



474. The Little Earth brought forward and stood holding it aloft and 



offering it to the brothers, 



475. Saying, as he did so: This bit of the earth's soil 



476. I give to you; it is a gift that will satisfy your hearts' longings, 



O, elder brothers. 



477. When you use it (as a sacred S3Tnbol), when offering your suppli- 



cations, 



478. Your prayers shall always be readily granted, O, older brothers. 



